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Post by TribeGM on May 8, 2010 8:33:44 GMT -5
1983 Final Standings
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Baltimore Orioles 98 64 .605 -- 2nd Detroit Tigers 92 70 .568 6.0 3rd New York Yankees 91 71 .562 7.0 4th Toronto Blue Jays 89 73 .549 9.0 5th Milwaukee Brewers 87 75 .537 11.0 6th Boston Red Sox 78 84 .481 20.0 7th Cleveland Indians 70 92 .432 28.0
West Division 1st Chicago White Sox 99 63 .611 -- 2nd Kansas City Royals 79 83 .488 20.0 3rd Texas Rangers 77 85 .475 22.0 4th Oakland Athletics 74 88 .457 25.0 5th California Angels 70 92 .432 29.0 5th Minnesota Twins 70 92 .432 29.0 7th Seattle Mariners 60 102 .370 39.0
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Philadelphia Phillies 90 72 .556 -- 2nd Pittsburgh Pirates 84 78 .519 6.0 3rd Montreal Expos 82 80 .506 8.0 4th St. Louis Cardinals 79 83 .488 11.0 5th Chicago Cubs 71 91 .438 19.0 6th New York Mets 68 94 .420 22.0
West Division 1st LA Dodgers 91 71 .562 -- 2nd Atlanta Braves 88 74 .543 3.0 3rd Houston Astros 85 77 .525 6.0 4th San Diego Padres 81 81 .500 10.0 5th SF Giants 79 83 .488 12.0 6th Cincinnati Reds 74 88 .457 17.0
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Post by TribeGM on May 15, 2010 12:40:50 GMT -5
Johnny Bench, Carl Yastrzemski, and Gaylord Perry all retired after the 1983 baseball season. Bench, with the Reds since 1967, finished his career with a total of 389 homers and four World Series appearances. Yaz, who had worn the Red Sox uniform for 23 years, slugged 3,419 hits. And Perry left with 314 wins for eight different teams, although he never made it to the World Series.
Some other aged players had no intentions of retiring. Philadelphia's Steve Carlton, 38, and Houston's Nolan Ryan, 36, spent the spring battling for the all-time strikeout crown.
Ryan passed longtime strikeout king Walter Johnson in April, only to be overtaken by Carlton in June. Ryan wound up the winner and Carlton got his 300th career victory. Tom Seaver returned to Shea Stadium and won nine games for the Mets.
Wade Boggs won the1983 batting title. There were bright moments for players across the league. Yankee Dave Righetti had a July 4 no-hitter against Boston. The Cardinals' Bob Forsch and Oakland's Mike Warren also fired no-hitters. Playing his first complete season, Boston third baseman Wade Boggs won the batting title with a .361 average. Boston's Jim Rice and Tony Armas led the league in homers, hitting 39 and 36.
In the National League East was Philadelphia, a team loaded with aging stars, including Pete Rose (42), Joe Morgan (40), Tony Perez (41), Tug McGraw (39), and Carlton. But the Phillies -- "the Wheeze Kids," as they were called -- still had enough to win the National League East. In the playoffs, the Phillies would meet a Dodgers team with no pitchers who won more than 15 games and only one hitter (Pedro Guerrero) who knocked in more than 73 runs.
Joe Altobelli replaced the legendary Earl Weaver as manager of the Orioles and -- with the solid performances of MVP Cal Ripken (.318 average, 27 homers, 102 RBI) and Eddie Murray (.306, 33 homers, 111 RBI) -- took them to their first World Championship since 1970. Although none of the Baltimore pitchers won 20 games, the staff was strong and consistent.
The Chicago White Sox won the West Division with 99 games. Their offense lived by the long ball, as skipper Tony LaRussa had four players who blasted at least 20 home runs: Greg Luzinski, Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, and 1983 Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle. The team led the league in runs. Its pitching staff, which relied on control, was spearheaded by Cy Young winner LaMarr Hoyt, a 24-game winner.
The Mets finished 68-94, but they laid the groundwork for future success. They traded Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey to St. Louis for Keith Hernandez, and introduced young slugger Darryl Strawberry, who slammed 26 homers, collected 74 RBI, and took Rookie of the Year honors.
The Phillies defeated the Dodgers three games to one in the National League Championship Series. Carlton won two of the games, allowing a total of just one earned run. The Orioles shot down the White Sox in the American League Championship Series. Chicago, which had such a potent offense during the season, scored a measly three runs in four games against Baltimore.
In the 1983 World Series, the Orioles took care of the Phillies in five games. No Baltimore pitcher won more than one game, but together they limited Philadelphia to a .195 average and 1.8 runs per game. Oriole catcher Rick Dempsey, who batted .385, was named 1983 World Series MVP.
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Post by TribeGM on May 26, 2010 14:40:50 GMT -5
1983 Baseball Season Headlines
In 1983, Darryl Strawberry played his rookie year in New York, while Gaylord Perry pitched his final season. Here are some of the headlines from the 1983 baseball season:
Eddie Murray: 33 HRs, 111 RBI
Eddie Murray was probably the most feared power hitter in either league. In 1983, he batted .306, tallying 33 homers and 111 RBI. The all-time home run leader for the Orioles, Murray nailed a pair of dingers in the fifth and final game of the 1983 World Series.
Darryl Strawberry Ripens in NY
Few New York rookies have arrived with as much potential and hoopla as Darryl Strawberry in 1983. In his 122 appearances, the 21-year-old outfielder batted .257 with 26 homers and 74 RBI to capture the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Jim Rice Tops American League in HRs
Jim Rice enjoyed a monster season at the plate in 1983, as he led or tied for the American League lead in homers (39), RBI (126), and total bases (344). Many had high hopes for huge career numbers from the left fielder, but he fizzled out at age 34 and retired after 1989.
A player who shunned the press, Rice once said, "Privacy is important to everyone. People say you owe the public this or that. You don't owe the public anything."
Dr. Gaylord Perry Wins 314th
Gaylord Perry played his 22-year major league career with eight teams, splitting the 1983 season between Seattle and Kansas City. He totaled seven victories that season, bringing his career wins to 314. Perry's stellar stint in baseball was marred when he was ejected from a game in 1982 for doctoring the baseball.
Wade Boggs Leads American League at .361
In his first full season, Wade Boggs continued the hitting that marked his rookie campaign, seizing the American League batting title with a .361 average. Boggs achieved further press when it was discovered that he ate chicken prior to each game. He eventually wrote a cookbook entitled Fowl Tips, which was illustrated with drawings by his father, Win Boggs.
Dale Murphy Cops 1983 National League MVP Award
Dale Murphy, 27, won the 1983 National League MVP Award, becoming the youngest player ever to win back-to-back MVP honors. He combined his Gold Glove fielding skills with a .302 batting average, a league-leading .540 slugging average, and a loop-high 121 RBI. His 36 homers (second in the circuit) and 30 stolen bases that season gained him admission to the 30/30 club.
Dan Quisenberry Saves a Record 45
Dan Quisenberry enjoyed his best season in 1983, as he set a then-major league record of 45 saves. Originally undrafted and signed out of La Verne College by the Royals as a free agent in 1975, Quisenberry adopted his submarine style of pitching because of a sore arm.
Cal Ripken Named 1983 American League MVP
Cal Ripken Jr. followed up his stellar 1982 rookie season with the 1983 American League MVP. Spearheading the Orioles to a World Championship, the shortstop batted .318 with 27 homers and 102 RBI. He achieved circuit-topping totals for runs (121), hits (211), and doubles (47).
Steve Garvey Ends CG Streak at 1,207
In December 1982, first baseman Steve Garvey signed a five-year, $6.5 million contract with the Padres. His hitting and professionalism were of great value -- In 1983, Garvey brought his consecutive game streak to an end at 1,207, a National League record. He finished the season with a .294 batting mark, a .459 slugging average, and 76 runs scored.
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